Woosh!

I did something today that I have not done in 10+ years.  While most people will roll their eyes after reading the next part, and I can already hear Lori giggling as she reads it, I am still proud of the accomplishment.  Are you ready.........drum roll please..........

I ran (not jogged) 2 miles without stopping once! I know, I know, for most of you that is probably pretty anticlimactic, but for me.........well it's unbelievable. 

As I have said in other post, I have been stuck in a rut for quite a while.  Physically I was in the worst shape of my life.  About three months ago I started making a few changes to my diet.  Within the last three weeks I have really started working out regularly and eating right, and it is really paying off. 

I feel better physically that I have in 10 years.  Weight is down, stamina is up, and my view of myself is starting to be a positive one. 

I know 2 miles is just a small step for most, but for me it's a huge leap.  The sky is the limit.

Better look out......for the next time you're out there running, all you might hear from me is WHOOSH as I glide by.

William

Penitent

Far too many times I have lost my temper with my children, for what now seems like trivial things.  Nothing makes you reevaluate your commitment like a full serving of ice cold perspective.

Remember the important things in life, and love like there's no tomorrow.

William

Rest in peace little ones.

Vince Gill - Go Rest High On That Mountain

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Tis The Season

I really enjoy writing, but you wouldn't know it by my sorry effort over the last couple of years. It's shameful really. Although things could be better in Camelot right now (working hard on correcting that), I still have plenty of stories inside me that are itching to be told. I will do a better job of scratching that itch, and hopefully provide you with some witty prose while I'm at it.

 

Yesterday was spent perusing the local establishments in search of the season's best deals. Oh boy, Christmas Shopping!! 

 

Lori and I set out pretty early yesterday morning, hoping to conquer a monstrous gift list. The first stop....a quick trip to Costco. Ahh yes.....the proverbial "quick trip" to Costco. Let me ask you this...has anyone in the history of shopping trips to either Sam's or Costco ever been able to make a "quick trip"? Ummm......no. It never works that way. There is just too much stuff to ignore. Oh you try....everybody tries....but it never happens. Our "quick trip" lasted an hour. 

 

We left Costco loaded to the gills, and went home to unpack. After unloaded the car, it was off to THE MALL (insert maniacal laugh). Uhhh....you want to torture someone? You want to work every last nerve in someone's body? Send them to the mall during Christmas. What a beating. After "visiting" Dillards, Nordstoms, JCP and Macy's (which happed to be spread over every square inch of the mall) we headed.....no not home....oh no, no, no, no, no, ........we headed for Super Target. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another 1hr of shopping. Woo Hoo!!!

 

We left Target at 2:40pm, after 6 total hours of shopping. You would think that one would be able to accomplish all they set out to do in that vast amount of time. Well....nope. Already been to Sam's, Lowes, and Kroger this morning, and today's beating has just started. Fa la la la la, la la la ugh..........

Tugging

17 years ago today, I meet the most wonderful person I have ever come in contact with. She was everything I ever dreamed of in a person. She was smart and beautiful, compassionate and strong, and I immediately fell in love. Most people search a lifetime and never find anything close to a perfect soul mate. I could not believe how lucky I had gotten. It took a while, and I still don't know how I did it, but I convinced that beautiful person to become my wife. It is the best thing (along with the birth of our children) that has ever happened in my life.

 

16 years ago today, I lost my father. Not a day goes by that I do not think about him. Oh how I wish he were still here. I would love for him to see his grandchildren. I would love for him to experience their innocence and fire. How invigorated he would be. I would love to ask him for advice, for I could sure use some right now. I miss our friendship. It is the worst thing that has ever happened in my life.

 

One day out of 365 that has such a bearing on my life. Difficult times, difficult day.

 

William

LIMBO

Sorry for the lack of blogs this year.  "Not So Fun Times In Camelot" probably wouldn't garner the same interest.  Hopefully things will change.

A Decade of Love

10 years ago today I was as happy as I have ever been in my life. Cloud nine, no doubt about it. I could not believe my luck, a true gift from God.

Here we are 10 years later, and Aidan's birth is still as fresh in my mind as if it happened today. I remember how scared I was when first heard him cry in the delivery room, and how I could not control my emotions. I remember looking at his mother, who had been in labor for so long, and thinking to myself how absolutely beautiful she was. Vivid pictures and feelings that I hope will remain just as fresh for the remainder of my life.

Aidan has molded himself into a fine young man. His mother and I have done a wonderful job with him if I do say so myself. Handsome, smart, polite, respectful, and courteous. Everything you could want in a child. We are very lucky.

10 years seems like a long time, but really, it isn't. Just a blip when you have kids. Squeeze them every day like it's your last, and remember what is important in life.

Happy Birthday Aidan...I love you.

William

Mother's Magic

Lori, Thanks you for being such a wonderful mother to our children. You do a magical job with each of them, and we are so very lucky to have you in our lives. I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I know we sure enjoyed spending it with you. We love you, William, Aidan and Christopher

Just A Number

Happy Birthday Lori! You continue to amaze me each and every day. Thank you for keeping me young.

I love you,

William

Perspective

One of the things that I like to do daily is visit one of my favorite websites. www.texags.com. It's a community of people, mostly Aggies but not all, that likes to exchange information about a variety of subjects. There are many different forums within the TEXAGS website covering the usual football, baseball, basketball, and the various other sports associated with college athletics. While those are very interesting, I find myself gravitating more towards the Outdoors board, or the Automotive board, or if I'm really feeling adventurous the Politics board. In all, there is approx 20-25 different boards to choose from.

Over time you develop a pseudo relationship with many of the people posting on the site. It's almost impossible not to. You find yourself defending a point or making a recommendation to many of the same people over time, and get to enjoy the banter back and forth.

This week, two of the better "posters" on the site had devastating news. One friendly Aggie has been chronicling his wife's struggle to fight lung cancer for a couple of years. He has continually delivered the good news and the bad. Today he found out that his wife's latest battle will be her last, as she has been given 9 months to live. While I do not personally know this man, I have been following their struggles for so long, that I felt genuine remorse reading about this latest and final set back. This women never smoked, and is relatively young. It breaks my heart when I put myself in his shoes, and think about the utter devastation I would feel if I were to lose Lori.

On the same day, I also read that one of my favorite contributors on the Automotive page (one that I've had several conversations with) had a stroke last weekend and is for all intensive purposes........gone. He has been in ICU all week fighting for his life, but that all changed today. They are now keeping him "alive" with machines in order for his two young sons to make it up to Dallas to see him one last time before they let him go. This is a 48 year old man in the prime of his life.....only two years older than me. :-(

I love my children and family more than anything on earth. I do not want to imagine a life without them, and I do not want them to experience life without me. Hopefully, God willing, I have many years left on earth, and I will get to see my boys grow up to be fine, successful men. I also hope that Lori and I will grow old together, and she will by my side holding my hand when I draw my last breath.

Every moment you spend with the people you love should be special. If it is not, correct that. You never know when you might be called home.

William

Happy Tuesday

I find it a little bit odd that there is a designated day to let the ones you love know how much they mean to you. The logic seems a bit flawed. Shouldn't every day be spent letting the people you love know how special they are?

Remember, your time is finite.

William

Lucky

It's been far too long since I have posted any pictures of my beautiful wife and our great children. I am so lucky to have each one in my life, and lately I believe I have lost track of that. I think that I fell into the vicious cycle of being content. While I stopped to bask in my contentment, the world around me kept right on moving. Unfortunately for me, it's awfully hard to catch back up, but I'm chugging along as fast as I can.

Aidan is growing into a fine young man. It amazes me how smart and mature he is at only 9 years old. He is going to be something special when he grows up. I am looking forward to seeing him become a man, but I'm not ready for that yet. We still have too much "playing" to do before then.

Christopher, well, he is a handful. I have never seen such an independent and hard headed 4 year old. He is also destined for greatness, for his drive is inextinguishable. Tell him he can't do something, and he will spend an eternity trying to prove you wrong.

Lori, well, I can't say enough about her. She is the best person I have ever met. Anyone she meets instantly feels a connection to her. It's a rare gift that very few have. I have been very blessed to have experienced it for the last 16 years of my life.


There you have it. A great looking bunch huh? I love each one dearly.

What did it tell you.........I'm......

Lucky!

William

Damn Butterfly

So many things in life seem inconsequential. A simple glance the other way, a step in the other direction, a blink of an eye. Mundane happenings on an insignificant daily journey.

Until recently, I had never given Chaos theory much thought. It seemed far fetched. A reach by someone to explain unpredictability. I now know that to be untrue, and even the smallest choices in life can lead to immense changes in real outcomes.

It's said that Albert Einstein was dumbfounded and amazed as a boy when he was given a compass. He was intrigued with the thought that some unseen force was controlling it. Without that simple compass and subsequent epiphany, he many never have awed the world with his theories. Think about that.....a simple short glance at a compass changed the world's history.

A shift can occur with something as simple as going north instead of south at the next crossroads. No big deal right? You can just turn around at the next intersection and go back right? Probably not. Oh how I wished it worked that way, but it doesn't. It would make life much easier. Nope...a whole new tangent is created, and life's timeline heads in a new direction.

Damn Butterfly. Where's a wasp, bird, snake, toad or lizard when you need them the most?

William